Many investors focus their portfolios on either growth stocks (if they're a long way from retirement) or income stocks (if they're nearing or in retirement). However, the sweet spot of investing is somewhere in the middle since companies that pay a growing dividend have historically outperformed both their non-paying peers as well as those that don't tend to increase it that frequently. Because of that, it makes sense for investors both near and far from retirement to have a couple of dividend growers in their portfolio. Here are two that offer an abundance of both growth and income.
NextEra Energy Partners (NYSE:NEP) operates and manages energy assets that have a cleaner profile, such as natural gas pipelines and wind and solar power-generating facilities. The other common denominator is that the company secured long-term contracts for the power these assets produce as well as the capacity of its pipelines, which provides it with relatively steady cash flow. That gives it money with which to pay a lucrative distribution that currently yields 4%. Noble Midstream Partners (NYSE:NBLX) operates more traditional energy assets such as oil and gas pipelines and related infrastructure. Long-term contracts also underpin Noble Midstream's assets, providing it with a predictable cash flow stream. That money currently supports the company's 4.4% yielding distribution.